Stepladder



' INVE-NTOR.

ATTORNEY.

G. W. CAIL STEPLADDER April 2, 1946.

Filed Nov. 7, 1944 EE0/5e Vl/[Ei/ Patented pr. 2, 1946 UNITEDA STATESmehr oFFlcE 2,397,468-11, f j r 'STEPLADDER i George W. Cal, Lafayette,alriff v Application November 7, ieiesnai No; 562,366

2 claims. (C1. zzsllzeifhf Y l This` invention relates to stepladders.

It is the principal object of my present invenf 'tionto provide agenerally improved and simplifled stepladder which can be expeditiouslyadjusted so that it can be properly supported on ground of irregularcontour.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a ladder of thecharacter referred to which can, by simple manipulation ofthestepsection thereof.' permit the supporting legs of the ladder toadjustthemselves relative to the contour of the ground and be automaticallylatched in such adjusted condition.

In practicing my invention, I provide a ladder having the usual stepsection to the upper end of which is pivoted a latching leg whichdepends centrally and longitudinally of the step section and can bepivoted only in a plane toward and away from the step section: I alsoprovide a supporting section whichy is connected at its upper end to thelatch leg at a point short of the pivotal point of the latter. Theconnection referred to is such that'the supporting ASection can,

pivot in a plane at right angles to the plane also permits a limitedamount of relative longi- 1 tudinal movement between the latching legand the supportingsection. The latching leg and the support section areprovided with complemental latching means which automatically disengageor engage upon relative vertical movement between the support sectionand the latching leg so that by simple manipulation of the step section,the supporting section may be released to adjust itself to the contourof the ground and then be automatically latched in this positionrelative to the latching leg by a release of the step section.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplied in the followingdescription and illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in rear elevation of a stepladder embodying thepreferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a central verticall sectional view through the latching legand supporting sec-v tion taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View in vertical section showing the pivotalconnection between the supporting leg and the step section taken on lineladder is particularly adapted for use for orchardand other work whererthe supporting groundfis .ofirregular contour. It` has particularmeritof automatic adjustment to the ground, where't` is Anecessary tofrequently change the position ofthe ladder to accommodate the user.Obviouslygvfinforchards and on other uneven ground thezsupporting legsof the ladder must bear. 'on'adiiierent plane than the legs of thestep'se'ction.' f My ladder has such characteristics that it canaccomplish this With a minimum'of eiforton the partof the user., l

' rIhe ladderil comprisesia vstep'section Il hav-L ing the usual`sidelegs I2 and Vsteps I4. Asin usualV practice, the legs I2 of the stepsection II aredivergent. `AtV the upperlendVV of the step'section IVhaveprovided a pivot Vbolt I5 on which is pivoted a rigid plate 16,.,theV pivotal connection being provided by inturned ears or lugs I1formed as an integral part ofthe plate I6.

I6, of course,-lies in a planelatwlse of the step section. Thus, the'plate I6 may pivot in one direction only, which is toward and away fromThev plate l the face of thestep section. YRigdly fastened at y itsupperend tothe plate I6 is a latch rlegY I8 which is arranged at. the rearface of the step section. Tliislatch leg I8 depends longitudinally asupport section I9 rcomprising -two divergentr legs 28 rigidly fastenedtogether at their upper ends by plates v,2l and intermediate their; endsby rigid latch plates 22. support section I9 is positioned at a distanceshort of the pivotal point of the plate I6 and latch leg i8. Y The latchleg I8 extends between the two plates 2l and between the two latchplates 22 so that there can be no relative movement between the latchleg I8 and the support section I9 in the plane of the pivotal movementof the latch leg I8. The plates 2| are formed with aligned slots 23engaged by a pintle 24 secured in the latch leg I8.

By this connection the suppo'rt section I9 may pivot relative to thelatch leg I8 in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of thelatch leg i3. Also, this connection permits a limited amount of relativevertical or longitudinal movement between the latch leg I8 and thesupport section I9.

To latch the support section I9 against pivotal movement with respect tothe leg I8, the latch The -upper end of the` plate-s 22 are formed withkeeper notches 25.

These notches are arranged at spaced distances apart transversely ofthesupport section I9 and on an arc struck from the center of the slots 23.The keeper notches 25 are, of course, forrmed in the upper edge of thelatch plates 22. To cooperate with these keeper notches 25 is a keeper26 secured to the latch leg I8. When there is relative longitudinalmovement between the support section I9 and the latch leg.V I8 cause ingthe pintle 24 to be at the upper end of the slots 23,`the keeper 26 willbe withdrawn from the notch 25 which it has engaged and the supi- V portsection I9 will be free to pivot about the pintle 24. Upon reverselongitudinal movezn'erit,

disposing the pintle 24 in the lowerends of the slots 23, the keeper 26will be engaged 4with an aligned notch 25. Thus, obviously, to adjustthe ladder to the ground, it is merely necessarygive a sharp forwardmovement to the upper Yend ofthe step. section'. which will upraise theKlatch legy ,lidand disengage. the keeper 2 6 from a notch 25,."iThesupport section I9 may then :pivot to accommodate -t-he lower en dsofits legs 20 to the groundJ and `then opposite movement may be given teithe yupper end of the .stepy section, yref enga-ging the keeper 26 with.a notch which will then tbe 'aligned therewith, again latchin'g thesupport section I9 vfrom pivotal move-ment with respect to `the latchleg t8 and the step seca tion H. c c

In operation of my ladder,it:is.-constructed and assembledasv-illustratedvand described'. When it is set upin Ithe orchard,asingle movement by the user of the step-sectionautomatically releasesthe support section .t9v and enablesproper adjustment thereof withrespect to the ground and re... latches the same with respect to 'thestep section. It is not vnecessary` that Vthe user walk around theladder-to adjust the support properly to thef'groundas thevladder can beadjusted by the user by simple manipulation ofthe stepsecftion.

Manifestly, I have provided by my invention an improved and simplifiedstepladder which can be efliciently onground of irregular contour, andwhichca'n bevery expeditiously-adjusted -to suit the'conditionsmetVWhile-l lhave b'shown itl-1e preferred form of my invention, it is 'tobe understood that 'various changes may be made in its constructionby-tho'se skilled vin Ythe art without departing 'from v'the spiritloftheiinvention as ldened vin-th'e appended claims. c

-Havingf-thus described vmy invention, what -I claim and desire toisec'ure lbyLetters Patent is.:

1. A ladder comprising a step section, an clongated latch leg pivoted atits upper end centrally of the vupper end of the step section with itsfree end depending centrally and longitudinally of said step section asubstantial distance for pivotal movement only toward and away from saidstep' section, a support section arranged coextensively of said latchleg, a connection between the upper end of the support section and thelatch leg at a point short of the pivotal lend of the latter, saidConnection permitting .pivctel movement of the support section relativeto the latch leg in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement ofthe latch leg and relative longitudinal movement between the supportsection and the latch leg, co-

operative latch means between the lower end of the latch 'member and thesupport sectioncapable of latching the lsupzxort section to the latchleg in various angular positions with respect to the latch leg, saidlatch means comprising a rigid latch plate .fixed transversely `or" thesupport sectionand having ykeeper.tnhtches 4formed i-n .its upper edge,and 'a keeper vsecured 'to the latch leg to engage .'said notches,:engagement vand dis:

engagement .of `said :keeper and notches benigni:`

fected by relative longitudinal movement between theisupport `sectionand the latch leg.

f2. A ladder .comprising -a step Ssection,lan elengated latch legpivoted .at litsr lupperrend centrally ofthe iupperend fof the stepsection "with its vfree,

te the latch leg in :a plane fat right angles te v'the plane'effAmovementfoi the l-atc'h leg, said connection permitting -a limitedamount :of v'relative ilongittldinal- -movement'betwee'n 'the latch leg4and Y the support section, A'cooperative latch imeans fb-etitfeen.' the'lower endof-the latch liegand-the-supportsectionjto latch `the supportlsection in Ywa-rious angular `positions 1relative vto the latchleg,

tancejbeljow 'the upper -'enjd of Vthe support section and beine 'ensacdian-1 fdisensaeedfby `rrelativ@ verbi 1'mbvement'betweenthe-lgtchileeandthe support'sction,

